By: Donna Selma Lind
"HOLD FAST" A term we all have heard,quoted and some have even tattooed on their knuckles, but how many of us really understand the true Bible meaning of "HOLD FAST"?
"HOLD FAST" has different meanings for different people and situations.
The Nautical term "HOLD FAST"on board a ship reminds the sailor when the ship is aloft in bad weather,to HOLD onto the lines (rope) FAST (tight) so the sailor's won't get tossed off the ship.
The Urban Dictionary defines "HOLD FAST" as: To bear down, grit it out, stay the course.
Lets break it down in the Webster Dictionary:
"HOLD" = To have or maintain in my grasp. To have possession or ownership. To stand firm in position.
"FAST" = Firmly Fixed. Securely attached. Rooted. Firmly Loyal. In a rapid manner.
Strong's Concordance in the Greek explains it as this :Take heed unto, give and pay close attention, mark,remain,stay, stop.
When the storms of life are raging around us and the waves are crashing against us; Do you "HOLD FAST?" Do you HOLD FAST to your confession of faith as a Christian or do you go down with the ship?
Are you owning your position of faith? Are you loyal and fixed in your faith in God enough to ride out the storms? Without wavering?
Wavering means doubting, not believing God is with you.
" But let him ask in faith, without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:6
Years ago I was in a small fishing boat in the middle of a lake when a big storm came up out of nowhere. The rain was pouring into the boat, the waves were crashing against and spilling over the top of the boat. The lightning bolts darted the sky all around us and every time the thunder boomed I jumped a foot off my seat.
We were miles from the shoreline and the boat was filling up with water as fast as I was scooping it up and tossing it overboard with the old minnow bucket. Fear came into the boat and it was easy to look around and give up. The temperature had plummeted and we were freezing cold, teeth chattering, soaked through to the bone.
How could we ever survive this storm? I couldn't see much past the boat because the rain was so torrential and fog had set in. There was no shore, no land in sight. No way out.
I began to pray, "Jesus help us. We need you. I know you are in this boat with me. You have not abandoned me. I will HOLD FAST! My hope and my faith is in you Lord!"
CRASH! THUD! Suddenly we hit something. The boat caught onto a little island in the middle of the big lake! When I say little, I mean little! It had one tree just big enough for the three of us to huddle under to protect us from the storm.
We turned the row boat over dumped out our gear and sat on top of the boat under the tree until the storm passed.
In the middle of a big lake, in the midst of a ferocious storm, in a sinking boat with no way out, God had provided an Island of Refuge!
"For thou has been..strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm." Isaiah 25:4
What kind of storm is swirling around your boat?
HOLD FAST!
When the waves are crashing all around your boat,
HOLD FAST!
When there is no way out,
HOLD FAST!
When you don't think you can survive,
HOLD FAST!
When your boat is sinking in the middle of the storm, HOLD FAST!
Jesus is your Island of Faith and Hope!
HOLD FAST TO YOUR FAITH! HOLD FAST YOUR HOPE! HOLD FAST TO JESUS!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!
Donna Selma Lind
